Master of Science in Environment and Natural Resources - Specialization Sustainable Water and Sanitation, Health and Development
Petter Jenssen
This master program meets with the demand for competence arising from the Millennium goals for water and sanitation. The program gives a broad introduction to sanitary engineering, water and associated health issues.
Strong need for experts in Water, Sanitation, Health and Development
Nearly half the world’s population lacks adequate sanitation and more than 3.4 million people die annually due to diseases caused by insufficient sanitation infrastructure. The United Nations intends in its Millennium Goals to half the number of people without access to clean water and half the number of people lacking proper sanitation by the year 2015.
To reach these ambitious goals it was estimated in 2004 that new sanitary facilities for more than 500’000 people needed to be established each day. Current reports show that this has not been reached and that we for sanitation are far behind the goal. Water toilets and centralized sewer systems, such as used in most of the industrial countries, are often too expensive and inappropriate regarding water consumption. Alternative new solutions with more focus on source separation and recycling are emerging and implemented in both developed and developing world. However, there is a lack of knowledge and experts dealing with these new solutions. By giving comprehensive competence in water supply and sanitary engineering, and associated health issues UMB’s master program for Water Sanitation and Health and Development builds the required capacity to tailor solutions to local needs related to the UN Millennium Goals for water and sanitation.
In cooperation with UMB and supported by Norad’s Program for Master Studies (NOMA) two sister programs are started in Kathmandu, Nepal and Abbottabad Pakistan. In Nepal the Institute of Engineering at Tribhuvan University (IOE - TU) is hosting the MSc program and in Pakistan COMSATS University of Information Technology (CIIT) is running this new MSc program. Similar education is given in all three programs and there will be possibilities to exchange credits between the programs.
Program Objectives
To give the students competence and skills raised by the challenges related to inadequate water and sanitation in developing countries especially. To provide the students an overview of potential technical solutions and knowledge of the advantages and limitations of different water and sanitary systems (large and small scale), as well as the socioeconomic factors of relevance for successful implementation in different parts of the world.
To build necessary competence required to design and implement decentralized and small-scale solutions for water and sanitation including natural and source separating systems for wastewater treatment.
Program content:
Water resources and water management
As water percolates through soils, sediments and even bedrock unwanted substances such as pathogens, nitrates and organic compounds are removed. If we do not exceed the removal capacity of the soil system this will act as a barrier against groundwater pollution. Soil and wetlands act as sinks for pollutants. A comprehensive knowledge of soil and groundwater systems will provide background for design and protection of water sources as well as design of natural systems for wastewater treatment.
The hydrogeology courses GEO220 and GEO300 give knowledge needed to find, develop and protect drinking water sources and some of the background needed for design of natural systems for wastewater treatment.
Ecological engineering
Phosphorous is an essential element to obtain high yields in agricultural production systems. However, mineral phosphorus is a limited resource and predictions indicate that the known deposits will be depleted in a few decades causing increase in food prices and potential inability to feed the world population. Human waste and human excreta especially contains high amounts of phosphorous, but also nitrogen and potassium the two other major nutrients supporting plant growth. Recycling resources from human waste helps to counteract potential phosphorous shortages and provides a dependent source of cheap local fertilizer.
The course THT282 gives an introduction to the MSc program and ecological engineering for design water and sanitary systems. The course THT280 trains students in design of decentralized natural and source separating systems and focuses on health issues related to sanitation.
Conventional and decentralised wastewater treatment systems
In industrialized countries centralized wastewater collection systems and advanced wastewater treatment is dominating. Due to cost mainly decentralized systems are given increasing focus. To meet the sanitary challenges in all parts of the world and to be able to select an optimum solution or combination of solutions knowledge of modern conventional water and sanitary systems are important.
The courses THT271 and THT310 give in depth knowledge needed to perform technical design plan and implement such systems.
Natural systems for wastewater treatment
Natural systems utilizing soil, sand or wetlands for wastewater treatment are technically simple and use little or no electricity yet they can provide treatment on the level of advanced tertiary systems.
Knowledge about the soil structure, soil chemistry and biology and classification are given in soil courses, the hydrogeology courses (GEO 220 and 300), together with the courses (THT282, 280 and 310) gives a comprehensive background needed for design and implementation of various natural systems as soil infiltration, ponds and constructed wetland.
Health and Development
Diarrhoea caused is one of the main causes of child mortality especially in developing countries. Inappropriate sanitation facilities both pollute drinking water and render local environments a risk area for children.
Basic knowledge of the health aspects of sanitation is given in the course (EDS255) and practical aspects of health and risk assessment are also elucidated in THT282 and 280. Implementing an appropriate sanitary system at a given location is not purely an engineering task. In order to develop a sustainable system, that means a system that the local population can accept, maintain and operate based on their culture, religion, skills, economic and academic resources issues other than engineering may be just as important. This is why the concept of “total sanitation” or ecological engineering has evolved.
In these approaches the technical installations are viewed as part of a total system including the natural, socioeconomic, (including gender) and legal conditions. These issues are emphasized in EDS255 and provide an important part of the systems thinking that this MSc program is based on.
Admission
Admission requirements:Applicants should have an university bachelor degree equivalent to at least 180 ECTS.
Students have to document sufficient English proficiency: This can be either Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 500 for a paper based test, a score of at least 170 for a computer-based test or minimum 60 for an internet-based test or International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) with a minimum score of 5.0.
For alternative documentation please see the GSU-list and the Language requirements from the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education
Tuition at UMB is subsidized by the Norwegian Government such that students do not pay tuition fees. However, every semester students are required to pay a NOK 340 registration fee to the University Foundation for Student Life in Ås. The cost accomodation in a student dormitory is approximately 2900 NOK per month.
Students are responsible for their own living expenses. For this reason the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) requires documentation that you can provide a sum of NOK 85.000 per year to cover the cost of accommodation and board, clothing, transport, study materials, medical and dental care, semester fees and other necessities. There are no scholarships available specifically for this program, but students from developing countries can apply for scholarships through the quoata program.
Application
The application deadline for the MSc course starting in 2013 is December 1, 2012December. The application form can be downloaded from:
For information regarding the formalities of application in Norway contact: Tonje Nore (tonje.nore@umb.no). For information regarding the course content other matters contact Petter D. Jenssen for the program in Norway, Iswar Amatya (isbiroraeebi@yahoo.com) for the program in Nepal and Bahadar Nawab (bahadar.nawab@yahoo.com) for the program in Pakistan
Applicants have to send the application form for self financed mater programs. This program is listed under code 1904 "Master in Environment and Natural Resources : specialization Sustainable Water and Sanitation, Health and Development"
Application deadline
Application deadline is
1. December 2012
To resize text: hold [ctrl] button and then plus or minus. [ctrl] and 0 resets size to standard size.
